The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-15
CARLETON AND COMPANY.

Mr. Carleton Is n singer who has, for many
years, been n public fayorite. His voice,
naturally strong and musical, has been care
fully trained and has stood wonderfully well
the test Of time and constant work 1t still
rings mcllifuously true. Mr.. Carleton has
proved his capability in grand opera, and, SO
far ns his personal gifts are concerned, he
could probably bear himself with credit in
the most ambitious Of operate perform
anccs But Mr. Carleton has chosen
10 dispor himself In the musical ex-
tnvagances which for the past few seasons
have claimed ~ much Of the thentcrgocr's
attention. Why has Mr.. Carleton chosen
this sphere for the employment Of his energy
and talcntg lie has done 10 because lac has
perceived the American public prefer. that
lac should. II Is simply matter Of catering.
Thirty years ago The lcaycu of Puritnnism
was 80 distinctly nSsertiyc Ia Amer
loan lite that the shurt.skirtcd opera
was almost unknown ON the American
stage. The drama had the set forms Ia which
Forrest and the elder Matthews aud Sontag
shone rc.plcndcnt. They aud their com
peers, English aud American, dominated
the stage The funniest things on the stage
were the iarccs, the burlcsqucs and the panlo-
mines These, however were constructed
by rules and established by tradition,
America was then great deal more English
than today, and the drama was struggling
against the social influences that cn..natcd
from Plymouth Rock. Therefore, the
drama was impressed with conservatism.
Twenty years ngo, or thcrcabuuis, Lydia
Thompson, with her "Bluu Beard and
blondes, aud Charles Barron with his "Black
Crook" bounded suddenly upon the Ameri-
can stage. The public was first shocked.
Then Il paused 10 argue the proprictics and
finally gave consent. The ice having been
broken, Olcnbaoh's opportunity came, and
Aimee and Schneider rcapcd golden harycs,s
up and down the continent. Once the
musical champagne Of O0snbach
was slipped, the American public
developed decided prcicrcncc'fof Oh FORMS
OF the Gnurs dramatic art. To such q de
gree was this developed that English opera
-synonomous with a light opcm-was
crowded of the stage, being displaced by
the compositions Of Ofrcnbach, Lccoq, and
others Of their ilk. Aud not only did the
Oncnbnchana extend 10 America, but II
spread over Europe, German, Austrian and
Russian composers catching the cue. Hut
~ great musical schools have not
rs yet been developed In this
young country ~ factors Ia the education Of
the popular taste, the American people have,
like children, gone 10 cxccsscs aud fo,tcrcd
the growth Of abnormal aud bizarre things
upon the stage. IL Is long step from ia
File de Madame Angoi," gay and friyil'
Gus M That opera l., Ia "Er.
mimic" ~ presented at the New Mcnphi.
thcaicr bofop a very large audience last eve
ming. The former, though comic, Is nm
| Opera none the less. the latter l. an opera
| ip name only, but very comical. We zee,
| therefore, that the American preference .
~ decidedly IN favor of the comic element
hat Il l. willing 10 overlook other cou,ideta
,lo,s when that i emphasized. Aud
vha are the constituent clemen I, Of /" III
| liinic7" Handsome figures well displayed
! exquisite cu,lumiug. low comedy In high ~
relief aud nov and then pretty sonc
merely incidental. II lisa fair type ol many
81 the most popular performances on
,hc stage. There h nothing IN Il
but % umuacs. II 10 sort ~ musical merry
| go-round, and Is rendered charming
by its Hvclncss, o. couscating color
aud H. Jingle. The public ~ In the humor
10 hc entertained IN this fashion. aud. ns W.
io not seem b. look nj these thing, ag ON
| gnudiathcu aid, there l. mo- specially harm
| ful sequence. and Mr. Carleton has occasion
to content himself with the rr1crtion that
Dee q not engaged In the hrluous work ul
leading n horse 10 water aud compelling
him to drink 81 nuid not quite to Dill
liking. II Is very curious indeed, thl
American musical genius has ns yet won Nd
ucccsscs IN this sphere " dramatic work
despite the appetite Of the public Tor H. II
VA. thought that the example of Mc.sr
Gilbert and Sullivan would cncoumr,
American effort IN this direction, but Il ha.
not 80 come about, aud Il has been
left 10 Foreigners exclusively 60 cate
10 this most pronounced Of American dm
matte predictions
Tho company vNth Mr. Carleton ha,
brought 10 Mcmphi. this time saver,
charming one. lIly roSL Fannie Rice an,
clara Wisdom Though Miss Wisdom lid no
nppcar last evening owing 10 In
Disposition aw delightful singers, an,
have very engaging wayr Tho chorus is cy
ccllcnt aud personally captivating Mr.
Drew u a. agtccably fantn.tis IN his cumi
diversions o. hitherto, aud Mr. Carleton con
tinucs ~ be host IN himself "Erminic'
| altfH - asVTul4.I f.t.t.sIN